Chateau Meyney 2005, St Estephe

Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel St Estèphe

Another property that has been recently purchased (by Crédit Agricole in 2004) and where a great deal of effort and energy has been put in to upgrade the main wine. Anne le Naour, has managed to produce a wine which whilst retaining a strong element St. Estèphe 'classicism', is much riper and intense than Meyneys of old. A profoundly deep colour and a powerful, liquorice, spice and blackberry fruit nose are the first signs of a significant change. There is plenty of fleshy fruit in the mid-palate with a classic, lifted St. Estèphe earthiness. Fine-grained tannins and plenty of length finish off a very complete package. 

Located in St.Estèphe, Château Meyney is these days owned by Domaine Cordier. It lies in the east of the appellation, next door to Château Montrose and enjoys a maritime climate as the Gironde estuary and the Bay of Biscay act as a kind of regulator. The pine forests on the coast are a great wind break, sheltering the vines from the north-westerly winds.

With 49 hectares of clay-gravel soil, they produce about 30,000 cases per year from Cabernet Sauvignon (70%); Merlot (24%); Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (2%). Vinification includes 15 months' wood ageing, 30% of which are made of new oak